McCormack guns Portlaoise to victory
Sunday, 5 December 2004 18:51Portlaoise powered their way to their sixth AIB Leinster Club football title, surviving two late goals to earn a 1-11 to 2-4 win over Meath's Skryne in Newbridge.
Three-time All-Star Trevor Giles netted a penalty and substitute Ken O'Connell scored a 58th minute goal to reduce the arrears for the Royals to three points, but Portlaoise's outstanding forward Brian McCormack eased them to victory with his fourth point late on.
Skryne player-manager Mick O'Dowd was to prove his side's leading forward target in the first half, but his point on 4 minutes was their only score of a one-sided opening half-hour.
Former Meath captain John McDermott's late withdrawal due to a virus hit Skryne severely, and they were outgunned 0-8 to 0-1 by the break. McCormack notched three of those, former minor star Peter McNulty two, and with Colm Parkinson, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Martin Delaney also on target, the Laois side were looking good.
Giles notched Skryne's second point three minutes after the restart, and with it, Kevin Mulvaney made it a five-point game.
However a Parkinson run-and-point, and set-up for Delaney's goal on 40 minutes kept Tommy Conroy's side ticking at 1-9 to 0-3 in front.
Giles' right-footed spot kick and O'Connell's neat finish from a high, dropping sideline ensured a nervous ending for town side Portlaoise, but nothing could stop them from a first provincial win since 1987.
Crossmaglen lie in wait next February.
